Tables



N. J. KERR May 17, 1955 TABLES Filed July 16, 1952 ATTORNEY United itates Patent TABLES Nora. J, Kerr, New York, N. Y.

Application July 16, B52, Serial No. 2%,177

1 Claim. (Cl. 211-150) This invention relates to improvements in tables, more particularly to improvements in tables having a plurality of tops for service and storage.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a table adapted for dining or other purposes having a lower supporting surface disposed beneath the usual upper service top for receiving used dishes and the like, the said lower surface being preferably spaced from the upper surface a convenient distance to receive said used dishes and at the same time to be concealed by the hanging peripheral portions of the usual table cloth.

More particular objects of the invention are to provide a multi-top table adaptable for any purpose desired which is characterized by hinged upper leaves to permit ready accessibility to the lower supporting surface, means to retain the hinged leaves in normal operative position whereby to avoid accidental tilting and means to prevent displacement of articles from the supporting surfaces.

Other objects are to provide a multi-top table of generally improved construction, and of increased durability and efficiency in use.

Still further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein preferred embodiments of the principles of the invention have been selected for exemplification.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of one form of table constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged transverse sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. l of the top portion of the table and showing in broken lines the upper leaves in elevated position;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged detail view of one of the corner sections of the table top shown in Figs. 1 and 2 showing one form of spring catch for securing the upper leaves in horizontal serving position;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of a modified form of table constructed in accordance with the present invention; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged detail view of one of the corner sections of the modified form of table shown in Fig. 4 showing another form of spring catch for securing the upper leaves in horizontal serving positron.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts, the multi-top table shown in Fig. 1 may be provided with the usual supporting legs 10 depending from a transversely extending supporting member 12 which forms the auxiliary or storage surface of the table. As shown, the member 12 carries an upright transversely disposed wall member 14. Leaves 16 which in extended horizontal position form the main or serving surface of the table are hingedly secured to the upper end of the central member 14 by any suitable hinge means as shown at 18.

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For supporting the leaves 16 in horizontal serving position, abbreviated spacing legs 20 depend from the corners thereof to engage when in lowered position the contiguous corners of the lower auxiliary top 12 and in substantial alignment with the table supporting legs 10. The surface 12 is preferably provided with an upright peripheral bead or rib 22 to assist in retaining dishes or other articles supported thereon and, as shown, such beads or ribs may be interrupted at the corner portions of the surface 12 to receive the lower extremities of the spacing legs 20.

For securing the leaves 16 in horizontal serving position and for preventing any accidental tilting of the leaves and consequent spilling or breakage of dishes or other articles, any suitable type of catch or locking means may be operatively connected between the surfaces 12 and 16. As shown in Fig. 3, for example, an arm 24 may be pivotally attached to an edge portion of the supporting member 12 and carry at one end a pin 26 for locking engagement with a recess provided in the adjacent spacing leg 20, the pin being normally urged into such engagement by a spring 28 positioned between the other end of the arm 24 and the adjacent supporting leg 10.

in the modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the spacing legs 20 are carried by the lower or auxiliary surface 12 and extend upwardly to engage at their free ends the adjacent corner surfaces of the leaves to. in this form of the invention a modified locking means may conveniently be provided such as shown in Fig 5 wherein a spherical detent 30 secured to the under side of the leaves 16 engages a resilient seat 32 provided in the upper extremity of the adjacent upright spacing leg 20.

It will be apparent that the principles of the invention are applicable to tables adapted for any particular purpose, such as dining or dinette tables, kitchen tables, work tables of various kinds or all-around utility tables. Further, it is to be understood, that the principles of the invention are not confined to the precise constructions herein illustrated and described which, as explained, are for exemplary purposes only, but embrace all various modifications thereof as come within the scope of the following claim.

I claim:

A table having a two-level top which comprises a transversely extending central upright portion, leaves hingedly connected to opposed sides of said upright portion for elevation along a horizontal axis, the said leaves when lowered in a horizontal plane forming the usual service upper surface for said table, a continuously extending supporting member substantially contiguous to and supported parallelly below said upper surface, the said member being open ended and providing a laterally accessible lower storage surface for use in conjunction with said upper surface, spaced upright article retaining rib sections disposed on the upper peripheral edge portions of said lower storage surface, a plurality of spaced legs carried by lateral peripheral edge portions of each of said leaves and depending from said leaves to engage said lower storage surface at the areas between said spaced rib sections, and spring catch means operatively connected between said depending legs and said lower storage surface to secure said upper and lower surfaces in serving and storage positions, respectively.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,448,328 Barrow Mar. 13, 1923 1,608,774 Crum Nov. 30, 1926 1,856,935 Turner May 3, 1932 

